Package for Containers

ABSTRACT

A package is formed from a carton and containers extending through a bottom panel of the carton. First and second struts and brace apertures in the carton sidewalls provide support for the containers accommodated within the carton.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The technical field relates to cartons for accommodating containers andpackages formed therefrom.

2. Related Art

Cartons for engaging and securing upper portions of containers areknown. The containers are typically inserted through apertures in abottom panel of the carton and secured by engaging radially protrudingparts of the containers. One such carton is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,223,892 to Bakx. Conventional cartons, however, may not securelyretain the containers, or may fail to satisfy other requirementsrecognized in the art.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the invention, a package comprises aplurality of containers accommodated in a carton. The carton comprises atop panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, aplurality of first struts extending from the bottom panel along a firstrow, a plurality of second struts extending from the bottom panel alonga second row, a first row of first container apertures, each firstcontainer aperture being adjacent to one of the plurality of firststruts, and a second row of second container apertures, each secondcontainer aperture being adjacent to one of the plurality of secondstruts. Each first strut comprises an upper first strut section, a lowerfirst strut section foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a firstinner brace aperture. Each second strut comprises an upper second strutsection, a lower second strut section foldably connected to the bottompanel, and a second inner brace aperture. The inner brace apertures mayinclude lower brace edges that support flanges of the containersaccommodated in the carton.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the side panels of thecarton can include outer brace apertures through which portions of thecontainer flanges extend. The outer brace apertures have lower braceedges that support the undersides of the container flanges. Duringerection of the carton, the carton blank can be tightly wrapped aroundthe upper portions of the containers to securely retain the containerswithin the carton.

According to the above aspects of the invention and additional aspectsdescribed below, the brace apertures and the struts serve to prevent thecontainers from inadvertently being pulled downward through thecontainer apertures, and also prevent excessive movement or pivoting ofthe containers.

Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can bemore completely understood by reference to the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

According to common practice, the various features of the drawingsdiscussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensions ofvarious features and elements in the drawings may be expanded or reducedto more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used to form a package according to afirst embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates an erection step for forming the first packageembodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an erection step for forming the first packageembodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an erection step for forming the first packageembodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates the first package embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present embodiments are addressed to cartons for attachment tocontainers. The cartons engage and secure upper portions of thecontainers to form a package.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank 8 used to form a carton or carrier 150.The carton 150 is illustrated in its erected state in FIG. 5, in whichit is attached to upper portions of containers 170, forming a package200. As shown in FIG. 1, the blank 8 may be wholly or partiallysymmetric about a longitudinal centerline CL. Therefore, certainelements in the drawing figures share common reference numerals in orderto reflect the whole and/or partial longitudinal symmetry. In thisspecification, the terms “bottom,” “top,” “lower,” “upper,” and “side”indicate orientations determined in relation to a fully erected cartonplaced in an upright configuration.

Referring to FIG. 1, the blank 8 comprises a first top panel 10 foldablyconnected to a first side panel 20 at a first transverse fold line 21, abottom panel 30 foldably connected to the first side panel 20 at asecond transverse fold line 31, a second side panel 40 foldablyconnected to the bottom panel 30 at a third transverse fold line 41, anda second top panel 50 foldably connected to the second side panel 40 ata fourth transverse fold line 51. An aperture 12 may be formed in thefirst top panel 10 for allowing a user to grasp and carry the package.

The transverse fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51 in the blank 8 can be moregenerally referred to as “lines of weakness” or “lines of disruption” inthe blank about which the blank is foldable. Each of the transverse foldlines 21, 31, 41, 51 may be interrupted at one or more locations, forexample, and need not be continuous across the transverse direction ofthe blank 8. One or more cuts may be, for example, placed along one ormore of the transverse fold lines 21, 31, 41, 51. In the exemplaryembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the transverse fold lines 21, 31, 41,51 may be cut/crease lines in which the cuts facilitate folding of theblank 8 at the fold lines. Any number of cuts may be formed along thefold lines 21, 31, 41, 51, and the number and length of the cuts may beselected according to, for example, the gauge and the stiffness of thematerial used to form the blank 8. The cuts may be partial cuts (e.g.kiss cuts), or 100% cuts extending through the entire thickness of theblank 8.

The bottom panel 30 includes a plurality of first container-receivingpatterns 80 and a plurality of second container-receiving patterns 100.The first container-receiving patterns 80 are arranged in a first row,and the second container-receiving patterns 100 are arranged in a secondrow spaced from the first row. Each container-receiving pattern 80, 100is shaped and sized to receive an upper portion of a container 170 thatis to be held within the erected carton 150. In the exemplaryembodiment, two columns of first container-receiving patterns 80 and twocolumns of second container-receiving patterns 100 are formed in thebottom panel 30 so that four containers 170 can be accommodated in theerected carton 150, forming a 2×2 package. Other package configurations,such as 2×3, 2×4 or 2×5, 3×2, etc. are also within the scope of thepresent invention.

Each first container-receiving pattern 80 defines a first strut 81. Eachsecond container-receiving pattern 100 defines a second strut 101. Eachfirst strut 81 includes an upper first strut section 84 and a lowerfirst strut section 86 foldably connected to the upper section 84 at atransverse fold line 82. The first lower strut sections 86 are foldablyconnected to the bottom panel 30 at transverse fold lines 88. Eachsecond strut 101 includes an upper second strut section 104 and a lowersecond strut section 106 foldably connected to the upper section 104 ata transverse fold line 102. The second lower strut sections 106 arefoldably connected to the bottom panel 30 at transverse fold lines 108.

The first struts 81 include first inner brace apertures 90 cut from thelower first strut sections 86. The second struts 101 include secondinner brace apertures 110 cut from the lower second strut sections 106.The first inner brace apertures 90 include lower brace edges 92, and thesecond inner brace apertures 110 include lower brace edges 112. Theinner brace apertures 90, 110 are sized to receive a part of a flange ofa container 170 in the interior of the erected carton 150 (illustratedin FIG. 5). The upper first strut sections 104 may each have a distaledge 105 that is complementary in shape with recesses 54 cut into thesecond top panel 50.

The first side panel 20 includes first outer brace apertures 22. Thenumber of first outer brace apertures 22 may correspond to the number ofcolumns of first container-receiving patterns 80 and to the numbercolumns of patterns 100. Referring also to FIG. 3, each first outerbrace aperture 22 is adapted to receive a part of an upper flangeportion 175 of a container 170 held within an adjacent, aligned firstcontainer aperture 85 formed from a corresponding firstcontainer-receiving pattern 80. The first outer brace apertures 22 havelower brace edges 24 located at or adjacent to the first transverse foldline 21 and cut from the first side panel 20. The second side panel 40includes second outer brace apertures 42 adapted to receive upper flangeportions 175 of containers 170 received within second containerapertures 105 formed from the second container-receiving patterns 100.The number of second outer brace apertures 42 may also correspond to thenumber of columns of first container-receiving patterns 80 and to thenumber of columns of patterns 100. The second outer brace apertures 42have lower brace edges 44 cut from the second side panel 40. Thecontainer-receiving patterns 80, 100 and the first and second braceapertures 22, 42 are arranged in two columns in FIG. 1. From right toleft, each column in the blank 8 includes an aligned first outer braceaperture 22, a first container-receiving pattern 80, a secondcontainer-receiving pattern 100, and a second outer brace aperture 42.

An exemplary method of erection of the carton 150 to form the package200 is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 2-5.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an erection step of the carton 150 andits initial attachment to the containers 170. Top portions of fourcontainers 170, including their flanges 175, are inserted through thefirst and second container-receiving patterns 80, 100, one container perpattern. In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the flanges 175are defined by lids that close the containers 170. Inserting thecontainers 170 may serve to open up the first and second containerapertures 85, 105 at the first and second container-receiving patterns80, 100, respectively. The container apertures 85, 105 may, for example,have curved or arcuate sidewalls at each end that may generally conformin shape to the exterior profiles of the containers 170. In FIG. 2, thecontainers 170 push the first and second struts 81, 101 so that theyfold about the transverse fold lines 88, 108, respectively, and extendgenerally upwardly from the bottom panel 30. The flange 175 of eachcontainer 170 in a first container aperture 85 extends in part through acorresponding inner brace aperture 90 of an adjacent first strut 81. Theflange 175 of each container 170 in a second container aperture 105extends in part through a corresponding inner brace aperture 110 of anadjacent second strut 101.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first top panel 10 and the first side panel 20are folded about the transverse fold line 31 so that the panels 10, 20extend generally upwardly. Folding the first side panel 20 upwardlycauses the flange 175 of each container 170 in a first containeraperture 85 to extend in part through a corresponding, aligned firstouter brace aperture 22. The second side panel 40 and the second toppanel 50 are folded about the transverse fold line 41 so that the panels40, 50 extend generally upwardly. The flange 175 of each container 170in a second container aperture 105 thus extends in part through acorresponding, aligned second outer brace aperture 42.

Referring to FIG. 4, the upper first strut sections 84 of the firststruts 81 are folded over at the fold lines 82 so that each upper firststrut section 84 rests on the upper surface of a flange 175 of acontainer 170. The flange 175 of each container 170 in a first containeraperture 85 extends in part through a corresponding, adjacent innerbrace aperture 90, with the underside of the flange resting on a braceedge 92. Similarly, the upper second strut sections 104 of the secondstruts 101 are folded over at the fold lines 102 so that each upperfirst strut section 104 rests on the upper surface of a flange 175 of acontainer 170. The flange 175 of each container 170 in a secondcontainer aperture 105 extends in part through a corresponding, adjacentinner brace aperture 110, with the underside of the flange resting on abrace edge 112.

The second top panel 50 is folded about the transverse fold line 51 sothat it extends over the tops of the containers 170 disposed within thesecond row of container apertures 105. The upper strut sections 84, 104now extend generally parallel to the bottom panel 30. The distal edge105 of each upper first strut section 104 is complementary in shape withone of the adjacent recess 54 formed in the edge of the second top panel50. The complementary shape of the edges 105 with the recesses 54 allowsthe upper second strut sections 104 and the second top panel 50 to layadjacent to one another on the top of an adjacent flange 175 without theupper strut sections 104 overlapping the top panel 50. When the firsttop panel 10 is folded over the upper strut sections 104 and the secondtop panel 50 to close the top of the package, the resulting top panelwill therefore have a smoother, flatter appearance.

The first top panel 10 is folded about the transverse fold line 21 sothat the underside of the first top panel 10 can be adhered or otherwisesecured to the upper surface of the second top panel 50, forming a toppanel 120, as shown in FIG. 5. If desired, the underside of the firsttop panel 10 may be adhered to one or more of the upper strut sections84, 104. The carton 150 is therefore closed about the upper portions ofthe containers 170 to complete the package 200. When viewed from theend, the carton 150 has a generally tubular shape with open ends. Thewidth of the top panel 120, measured across the open end of the carton150, is less than the width of the bottom panel 30. The first and secondside panels 20, 40 therefore slope inwardly toward the top of thepackage 200.

When closing the carton 150, the first top panel 10 and the second toppanel 50 can be brought together and joined relatively tightly so thatthe flanges 175 of the containers 170 extend through and are supportedin the outer brace apertures 22, 42 in the side panels 20, 40,respectively. At the exterior edge of the carton 150, the undersides ofa flange 175 of a container 170 accommodated in a first containeraperture 85 is thereby securely engaged with a first brace edge 24, andthe underside of a flange of a container accommodated in a secondcontainer aperture 105 is securely engaged with a second brace edge 44.

In the interior of the carton, the first struts 81 support thecontainers 170 accommodated in the first row of container apertures 85,and the second struts 101 support the containers 170 accommodated in thesecond row of container apertures 105. Referring also to FIG. 4, theflange 175 of each container 170 in a first container aperture 85extends in part through a corresponding first inner brace aperture 92.The lower brace edge 94 of the brace aperture 92 is positioned to exertan upward force on the underside of the container's flange 175.Similarly, the flange 175 of each container 170 in a second containeraperture 105 extends in part through a corresponding second inner braceaperture 112. The lower brace edge 114 of the brace aperture 112 ispositioned to exert an upward force on the underside of the container'sflange 175.

According to the above embodiment, containers 170 are securely retainedby the outer brace apertures 22, 42 in the side panels 20, 40 and by thestruts 81, 101 in the carton interior. The containers 170 are therebysecured against being pulled downwardly through the bottom panel 30, andare also secured against excessive translation and/or pivoting withinthe carton 150.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustrates a carton 150accommodating four containers 170 arranged in two rows and four columns.Additional columns, for example, may be added by increasing the width ofthe blank 8 (in the transverse direction in FIG. 1) and formingadditional opposed container-receiving patterns 80, 100 in the bottompanel 30 and corresponding aligned brace apertures 22, 42 in the sidepanels 10, 20, respectively.

In this specification, the term “flange” indicates any radiallyprojecting rim, collar, ring, raised portion or protrusion extendingfrom an upper portion of a container.

The blank 8 according to the present invention can be, for example,formed from coated paperboard and similar materials. The blank can alsobe constructed of other materials, such as cardboard, hard paper, or anyother material having properties suitable for enabling the resultantpackage to function at least generally as described in thisspecification.

The interior and/or exterior sides of the blank 8 can be coated with aclay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over with product,advertising, price coding, and other information or images. The blankmay then be coated with a varnish to protect any information printed onthe blank. The blank may also be coated with, for example, a moisturebarrier layer, on either or both sides of the blank, or laminated to orcoated with one or more sheet-like materials at selected panels or panelsections.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, afold line can be any substantially linear, although not necessarilystraight, form of disruption or weakening in the blank 8 thatfacilitates folding therealong. More specifically, but not for thepurpose of narrowing the scope of the present invention, fold linesinclude: score lines; crease lines; a cut or a series of cuts thatextend partially into and/or completely through the material along thedesired line of weakness; and various combinations of these features.

The above embodiments may be described as having one or panels adheredtogether by glue. The term “glue” is intended to encompass all manner ofadhesives commonly used to secure carton panels in place.

The description is not intended to limit the invention to the formdisclosed herein. Also, it is intended that the appended claims beconstrued to include alternative embodiments, not explicitly defined inthe detailed description.

1. A package, comprising: a carton, comprising: a top panel; a bottompanel; a first side panel; a second side panel; a plurality of firststruts extending from the bottom panel along a first row, each firststrut comprising an upper first strut section, a lower first strutsection foldably connected to the bottom panel, and a first inner braceaperture; a plurality of second struts extending from the bottom panelalong a second row, each second strut comprising an upper second strutsection, a lower second strut section foldably connected to the bottompanel, and a second inner brace aperture; a first row of first containerapertures, each first container aperture being adjacent to one of theplurality of first struts; and a second row of second containerapertures spaced from the first row of container apertures, each secondcontainer aperture being adjacent to one of the plurality of secondstruts; and a plurality of containers, each container being accommodatedin one of the container apertures and having a flange with an underside,wherein the flange of the container in each first container aperture isat least partially accommodated in the first inner brace aperture of theadjacent first strut, and the flange of the container in each secondcontainer aperture is at least partially accommodated in the secondinner brace aperture of the adjacent second strut.
 2. The package ofclaim 1, wherein each first inner brace aperture comprises a first lowerbrace edge, the underside of the flange of the container at leastpartially accommodated in each first inner brace aperture beingsupported on the first lower brace edge of the first inner braceaperture.
 3. The package of claim 2, wherein the upper first strutsection of each first strut lies on a top surface of the containeraccommodated in the adjacent first container aperture.
 4. The package ofclaim 3, further comprising: a plurality of first outer brace aperturesin the first side panel; and a plurality of second outer brace aperturesin the second side panel, wherein each container is supported by atleast one of the outer brace apertures at the underside of its flange.5. The package of claim 3, wherein each first strut's upper first strutsection is connected to its lower first strut section at a fold line. 6.The package of claim 1, wherein the upper first strut section of eachfirst strut lies on a top surface of the container accommodated in theadjacent first inner container aperture.
 7. The package of claim 1,further comprising: a plurality of first outer brace apertures in thefirst side panel; and a plurality of second outer brace apertures in thesecond side panel, wherein each container is supported by at least oneof the outer brace apertures at the underside of its flange.
 8. Thepackage of claim 1, wherein the first and second rows of containerapertures are arranged in a plurality of columns.
 9. The package ofclaim 1, wherein the top panel comprises a first top panel and a secondtop panel, the second top panel having a plurality of recesses, eachrecess in the second top panel being complementary in shape with adistal edge of an adjacent upper second strut section.
 10. The packageof claim 1, wherein the lower first strut sections are substantiallyupright.
 11. The package of claim 1, wherein the carton has asubstantially tubular shape with open ends.
 12. A blank, comprising: atleast one top panel; a first side panel, the first side panel having atleast one first outer brace aperture; a bottom panel; a second sidepanel, the second side panel having at least one second outer braceaperture; a first row of at least one first container-receiving patternin the bottom panel, each first container-receiving pattern defining anupper first strut section, a lower first strut section foldablyconnected to the upper first strut section, and a first inner braceaperture; and a second row of at least one second container-receivingpattern in the bottom panel, each second container-receiving patterndefining an upper second strut section, a lower second strut sectionfoldably connected to the upper second strut section, and a second innerbrace aperture, wherein each first outer brace aperture is aligned witha first container-receiving pattern.
 13. The blank of claim 12, wherein:each second container-receiving pattern is aligned with a firstcontainer-receiving pattern; and each second outer brace aperture isaligned a first container-receiving pattern.
 14. The blank of claim 13,further comprising a second top panel foldably connected to the secondside panel.
 15. The blank of claim 12, wherein the blank is constructedfrom paperboard.
 16. The blank of claim 12, wherein the at least onefirst container-receiving pattern comprises a plurality of firstcontainer-receiving patterns arranged in a plurality of columns.
 17. Amethod of erecting a package, comprising: providing a blank comprising:at least one top panel; a first side panel, the first side panel havingat least one first outer brace aperture; a bottom panel; a second sidepanel, the second side panel having at least one second outer braceaperture; a first row of at least one first container-receiving patternin the bottom panel, each first container-receiving pattern defining anupper first strut section, a lower first strut section foldablyconnected to the upper first strut section, and a first inner braceaperture; and a second row of at least one second container-receivingpattern in the bottom panel, each second container-receiving patterndefining an upper second strut section, a lower second strut sectionfoldably connected to the upper second strut section, and a second innerbrace aperture, wherein each first outer brace aperture is aligned witha first container-receiving pattern; providing a plurality ofcontainers, each container having an upper portion with a flange; movingthe upper portion of one of the containers through each one of the firstcontainer-receiving patterns; moving the upper portion of one of thecontainers through each one of the second container-receiving patterns;for each first container-receiving pattern, folding the upper firststrut section over a top of the container moved through the firstcontainer-receiving pattern; for each second container-receivingpattern, folding the upper second strut section over a top of thecontainer moved through the second container-receiving pattern; andsecuring the top panel over the containers.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising moving the flanges of each container through a braceaperture in an adjacent one of the side panels.
 19. The method of claim18, further comprising: for each first container-receiving pattern,folding the lower first strut section upwardly before folding the upperfirst strut section; and for each second container-receiving pattern,folding the lower second strut section upwardly before folding the uppersecond strut section.
 20. A package, comprising: a carton, comprising: atop panel; a bottom panel; a first side panel; a second side panel; atleast one first strut extending from the bottom panel along a first row,each first strut comprising an upper first strut section and a lowerfirst strut section foldably connected to the bottom panel; at least onesecond strut extending from the bottom panel along a second row, eachsecond strut comprising an upper second strut section and a lower secondstrut section foldably connected to the bottom panel; at least one firstcontainer aperture, each first container aperture being adjacent to oneof the at least one first struts; and at least one second containeraperture, each second container aperture being adjacent to one of the atleast one second struts; and a plurality of containers, each containerbeing accommodated in one of the container apertures and having a flangewith an underside, wherein the upper first strut section of each firststrut lies on a top surface of the container accommodated in theadjacent first container aperture, and the upper second strut section ofeach second strut lies on a top surface of the container accommodated inthe adjacent second container aperture.
 21. The package of claim 20,further comprising: a plurality of first outer brace apertures in thefirst side panel; and a plurality of second outer brace apertures in thesecond side panel, wherein each container is supported by at least oneof the outer brace apertures at the underside of its flange.
 22. Thepackage of claim 21, wherein each first strut comprises a first innerbrace aperture, the flange of the container in each first containeraperture being at least partially accommodated in the first inner braceaperture of the adjacent first strut.
 23. The package of claim 22,wherein each first inner brace aperture comprises a first lower braceedge, the underside of the flange of the container at least partiallyaccommodated in each first inner brace aperture being supported on thefirst lower brace edge of the first inner brace aperture.
 24. Thepackage of claim 20, wherein: each first strut's upper first strutsection is connected to its lower first strut section at a fold line;and each first strut's lower first strut section is connected to thebottom panel at a fold line.
 25. The package of claim 20, wherein thelower first strut sections are substantially upright.
 26. The package ofclaim 20, wherein the carton has a substantially tubular shape with openends.